Written Answers Tuesday 25 July 2006

Scottish Executive

Council Tax

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will issue guidelines to local authorities in order to limit future increases in council tax.

George Lyon: The setting of council tax is a matter for local authorities and they have to justify the levels they set to local taxpayers. However, we have provided record levels of investment to local authorities and we have made clear to councils that we expect that this, coupled with the work they are taking forward on efficiency, aligning resources to priorities and improving council tax collection, means council tax rises should be kept to a minimum.

Diabetes

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish an estimate of the number of current undiagnosed cases of diabetes and what plans it has to publish this figure annually.

Mr Andy Kerr: Work is in hand to publish regularly updated information about the prevalence of diabetes, including estimates of undiagnosed cases, on the Scottish Public Health Observatory website www.scotpho.org.uk . The first set of these data is expected to be published by September 2006.

Diabetes

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to help to raise awareness of diabetes among at-risk communities.

Mr Andy Kerr: Delivering for Health committed the Executive to strengthening primary care services in deprived areas to deliver "anticipatory care". This approach, which is being taken forward through the ‘Prevention 2010’ pilots, will ensure that people at greatest risk of preventable ill health are actively and systematically identified, contacted and offered health checks and risk assessment, improved access to NHS and other services and regular monitoring and follow-up. Prevention 2010 will enable earlier identification, prevention and treatment for conditions such as type 2 diabetes.

  In addition, the Diabetes Action Plan, which was published last month, places a responsibility on each diabetes Managed Clinical Network to undertake during  2007-08 a needs analysis of their population to identify disadvantaged groups and describe the provision of services required to meet their needs in terms of diabetes care.

Epilepsy

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets have been set to ensure that people having seizures will not have to wait more than six months for intervention and treatment after seeing an epilepsy specialist.

Lewis Macdonald: There are no waiting time targets specific to epilepsy, including the management of people with epilepsy who have seen a specialist. The Executive recognises the importance of prompt access to further intervention and treatment, especially when additional specialist tests are needed to establish a clear diagnosis of epilepsy.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26119 by Tavish Scott on 13 June 2006, whether it has taken external legal advice to confirm whether a public service obligation is a prerequisite for the subsidy of ferry services on the Tarbert to Portavadie and Gourock to Dunoon routes and elsewhere on the Clyde and Hebrides network.

Tavish Scott: The Executive has significant legal advice at its disposal. The Executive does not normally publish the legal advice which it receives.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26119 by Tavish Scott on 13 June 2006, whether it considers that, in the absence of a public service obligation, the subsidy to ferry services on the Tarbert to Portavadie and Gourock to Dunoon routes and elsewhere on the Clyde and Hebrides network can be justified under EC law or whether it considers that the subsidy to such services would be ruled as illegal state aid, given that Article 4.2 of the EC Maritime Cabotage Regulations 1992 states that compensation could be paid for public service obligations.

Tavish Scott: The Executive plans to proceed by means of Public Service Contracts (PSCs), rather than Public Service Obligations (PSOs). Provision for PSCs is made in Article 4.1 of the Maritime Cabotage Regulation.

Ferry Services

Jim Mather (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26119 by Tavish Scott on 13 June 2006 which stated that "there is no need to consider, nor do we intend to consider, issues arising in relation to PSOs", whether it has any concerns that the subsidy of ferry services on the Tarbert to Portavadie and Gourock to Dunoon routes and elsewhere on the Clyde and Hebrides network could be construed as constituting illegal EC state aid and therefore that the routes could be subject to immediate cessation.

Tavish Scott: There is no threat of which we are aware of immediate cessation. The Commission has welcomed the steps that the Executive is taking to tender the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services and thus bring the subsidy arrangements into line with European law, including State aid rules.

  In any case, the imposition of a PSO would not exempt the Executive from the State aid rules and would not solve any State aid problems that existed. PSOs are imposed under the Maritime Cabotage Regulation which is entirely separate from the State aid rules.

Food Labelling

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will introduce the requirement for restaurants to provide information on the country of origin of meat and meat products served on their premises.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive issued a consultation on this subject. We are now considering the responses to that consultation to ensure that all the issues are fully taken into account.

Health

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to disseminate information throughout the NHS on current advances in research into, and treatment of, Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Lewis Macdonald: Research results would normally be published in peer-reviewed journals. Health professionals are expected to keep abreast of all such publications as part of their continuing professional development. The Scottish Muscle Network, which is funded as a national Managed Clinical Network by NHSScotland, has a key role in the dissemination of information and the education of health professionals about conditions such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Health

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has funded in the last six years involving Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Lewis Macdonald: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and healthcare needs in Scotland. CSO has not funded any research projects in the last six years into Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but would be pleased to consider proposals for research in this area which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

Health

Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding streams are available for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy and what action it will take to encourage research in this area.

Lewis Macdonald: Details of the support provided by the Scottish Executive through the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) for research into health and health care needs in Scotland are available from the CSO website at: www.show.scot.nhs.uk/cso . Direct support for research is available through CSO’s grant schemes. CSO primarily responds to requests for grant funding for research proposals initiated by the research community in Scotland. There are no specific plans to encourage research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but CSO would welcome research proposals in this area which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

Health

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many confirmed cases of measles there have been in the NHS Tayside area in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Mr Andy Kerr: In the last four years (2005, 2004, 2003, 2002) there have been two confirmed cases of measles in Tayside. These were both in 2003 and comprised a family cluster of two adults. The initial case was imported from abroad and infection spread to one further family member. The cases were reported in the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health (SCIEH) Weekly Report Vaccine-preventable and childhood disease report of 10 June 2003.

  The report is available online at: www.show.scot.nhs.uk/scieh/PDF/pdf2003/0323.pdf.

Housing

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the level of demand for social rented accommodation for vulnerable disabled people across Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive fully recognises the need to ensure that there is suitable housing for persons with disabilities. Consequently, the Scottish Executive expects each local authority, in its Local Housing Strategy and Supporting People Plan, to identify the scale and nature of these needs and to draw up proposals for meeting any shortfall.

Life Expectancy

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest available figures on life expectancy are in (a) Dundee, (b) Angus and (c) across Scotland.

George Lyon: The latest available figures on life expectancy are available on the General Register Office for Scotland’s website through the following link: http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/library/life-expectancy/le2002-04.html . Updated figures will be available in September 2006.

Life Expectancy

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest available figures on life expectancy are in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus, broken down by postcode sector.

George Lyon: The most recent figures by postcode sector for Dundee and Angus, based on the 2001 Census, are available in the NHS Health Scotland’s Community Profiles, through the following link: http://www.scotpho.org.uk/web/site/home/Comparativehealth/Profiles/CommunityProfiles/Tayside/Tayside.asp

  Estimates of life expectancy for smaller areas are less reliable than those for larger areas. This is reflected in the confidence intervals (the range of values the actual value lies in, with 95% probability) that accompany the figures in the "graphs page" of the profiles.

Pensions

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what amounts at current prices were paid in government grants in each year since 1997 to meet any annual deficits where the cost of pensions exceeded the amount of contributions made in respect of each of the pay-as-you go pension schemes identified in Public sector pension schemes in Scotland by Audit Scotland.

Mr Tom McCabe: Audit Scotland published a report entitled Public Sector Pension Schemes in Scotland on 20 June 2006. The Executive pointed out to Audit Scotland before the report was published that, in relation to the NHS and Teachers Schemes is was inaccurate and (potentially) misleading to present the funding of pensions as if current contributions by employees and employers directly fund current payments.

  For these schemes there is no direct relationship between current contributions and current pension payments. The funding from the Exchequer through the SPPA reflects the payment of past contributions.

  With regards to the NHS and teachers Schemes, contribution rates are set by Actuaries to fully meet the cost of future benefits accrued. It follows that both employees and employers pay contributions to meet their future benefits. It would therefore be inappropriate to suggest that the difference between contributions and pension payments in any given year resulted in a surplus or deficit requiring government grant for that year.

  The police and fire services scheme do not involve a pension fund. Rather, current pension liabilities are met by contributions from current members and Grant Aided Expenditure. Accordingly, contributions are not set at a rate to meet future liabilities, rather they are used to meet current liabilities. Future liabilities will be met from Grant Aided Expenditure and employee contributions at the appropriate time.

Planning

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which ministers have been consulted by HM Treasury in respect of the implementation of planning-gain supplement in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Ministers issued a collective response to the HM Treasury consultation on planning-gain supplement. The response is available on the Scottish Executive website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/05/24153534/0 .

Planning

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any meetings between HM Treasury officials and Scottish ministers or officials about the implementation of planning-gain supplement in Scotland and, if so, how many meetings there have been and when they took place.

Malcolm Chisholm: Scottish Executive officials have met with HM Treasury representatives on four separate occasions to discuss the possible introduction of a planning-gain supplement. Specifically, Scottish Executive officials met with Treasury officials in Edinburgh on 18 April 2005 and 23 February 2006, and in London on 28 and 29 November 2005 and 6 June 2006.

Planning

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects HM Treasury to come to a view on the implementation of planning-gain supplement in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The HM Treasury consultation published alongside the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s 2005 Pre-Budget Report indicated that the Planning-gain supplement would not be implemented prior to 2008.

  Executive officials will continue to keep in close touch with HMT officials to monitor the further development of these proposals.

Prostitution

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is held on people under 18 who have been found soliciting and on how many occasions the charge of soliciting has been applied to such people in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) age and (b) gender.

Hugh Henry: In the five year period 2000-01 to 2004-05 there were two females aged under 18 recorded as being proceeded against for offences related to prostitution.

Rail Services

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact it considers the increased cost of rail travel will have on passenger volumes.

Tavish Scott: We have received assurances from First ScotRail that the re-structuring of a small number of unregulated fares aims overall to encourage further off peak travel and reduce overcrowding on peak trains. On that basis we would not anticipate any significant impact on passenger numbers.

  In the last several years we have seen increases of circa 10% year on year in the number of people choosing to travel by train. We are committed to work to continue that trend, focussing in particular on improving punctuality and service quality.

Rail Services

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipated that its increased funding to First ScotRail would result in a decrease in the rail ticket costs.

Tavish Scott: The terms of the franchise agreement set out what First ScotRail will deliver for the subsidy received. Overall, the financial model underpinning the contract did not anticipate a decrease in rail ticket prices.

  The franchise agreement contains conditions restricting the amount by which regulated fares can increase. Transport Scotland officials scrutinise changes in regulated fares levels to ensure that First ScotRail operates within the terms of the franchise. Changes in unregulated fares are a commercial matter for First ScotRail.

Rail Services

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the resources which it provides to First ScotRail are used to fund.

Tavish Scott: Scottish Ministers will spend approximately £1.9 billion in subsidy payments to First ScotRail over the seven year life of the franchise. The level of subsidy is based on the operating costs incurred by First ScotRail in delivering the contracted level of service as well as an agreed level of profit.

  The subsidy paid to First ScotRail represents payment of these costs net of the revenue generated from ticket sales. The Executive has driven, through the franchise agreement and their funds, greatly improved levels of service, punctuality and quality as well as implementing the various performance regimes contained in the franchise agreement. Where performance targets fail to be met, the franchisee faces substantial financial penalties.

Rail Services

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to monitor improvements to train services provided by First ScotRail.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland officials meet with First ScotRail at least weekly across a range of topics to ensure that all contracted commitments to improvement are delivered and to discuss improvements to existing services and the introduction of new services.

  The franchise agreement requires First ScotRail to produce a number of specific reports on performance. These reports are closely scrutinised by Transport Scotland officials who look to First ScotRail to deliver the best performance for the public subsidy. There are robust performance regimes contained within the franchise agreement to ensure that the standard of rail services provided by the franchisee continually improves over the life of the franchise. The franchisee faces significant financial penalties where performance targets are not met.

Rail Services

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-24494 by Tavish Scott on 12 May 2006, when its rail strategy will be finalised.

Tavish Scott: Scottish Ministers aim to publish a rail strategy in autumn 2006, which will be a component part of the National Transport Strategy.

Rail Services

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of profit has been agreed with First ScotRail in respect of the current contract to provide passenger rail services in each year over the lifetime of the contract.

Tavish Scott: The level of profit contracted for in the Franchise Agreement is commercially sensitive and cannot be released.

Rail Services

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid to ScotRail in respect of indemnification payments relating to industrial disputes over the term of its passenger rail services contract and whether the same indemnification guarantees have been written into the current First ScotRail contract.

Tavish Scott: I refer the member to the questions S2W-18223, answered on 5 September 2005 and S2W-14910, answered on 22 March 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Rail Services

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on what the average salary is in First ScotRail, how many directors and senior management there are and what their average salary is.

Tavish Scott: The number of First ScotRail Executive Directors is 7. A further 13 people are in First ScotRail’s Executive Grade. This information has been obtained from First ScotRail Limited.

  The Scottish Executive does not hold information regarding First ScotRail’s salaries. However, information relating to First ScotRail’s accounts is contained within its published Annual Report. As First ScotRail is a limited company, its published Annual Report can be obtained from Companies House by emailing them at: enquires@companies-house.gov.uk.

Rail Services

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the diesel rolling stock currently operated by First ScotRail will be suitable for use on the proposed Edinburgh Airport rail link; how much additional rolling stock will be required, and what the cost of such new rolling stock will be to the Executive.

Tavish Scott: A range of services to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Inverness, Fife and Dunblane, in addition to the route to and from Edinburgh to Glasgow will use the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) when it becomes operational in late 2011. Whilst all of the current fleet of rolling stock could continue to be used after this date, it is planned that new rolling stock will be procured for deployment on most of the routes to maximise performance benefits.

  A rolling stock procurement plan is currently being developed by Transport Scotland. This will look at the number of new trains required and potential costs for all of our projects, including EARL, and passenger growth initiatives from 2009 onwards.

  A completed plan will be produced for consideration by Transport Scotland later in 2006.

Rail Services

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what way Transport Scotland will contribute to the specifications for future cross-border passenger rail service franchises.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive will consider the proposed specifications for cross border franchised services in relation to Scotland’s strategic requirements, and provide advice to the Department for Transport. In doing so we will consider:

  The capacity of these services to meet forecast demand;

  The capability of the services to provide fast links between major business centres both within Scotland and between Scotland and England;

  The specific needs of communities served by these train services.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Road Accidents

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on accidents involving motor cyclists on motorways or dualled sections of road where a wire rope rather than solid section central reservation division is provided.

Tavish Scott: Since the introduction of wire rope safety fencing in the early 1990s, 31 injury accidents have been recorded involving motorcycles hitting centre reserve safety barrier on Scottish trunk roads. Seven of these accidents involved wire rope safety fence, the other 24 involved other types of safety barrier.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for the area and can be contacted for more information if required.

  Information on accidents on local roads can be obtained from appropriate local authorities.

Road Safety

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into motor cyclist safety regarding the provision of wire rope central reservation divisions on Scottish roads.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has not commissioned any research into motor cyclist safety regarding the provision of wire rope central reservation divisions on Scottish roads. However, Transport Scotland has briefed a consultant to undertake a research study looking directly at these issues.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its most recent estimate is of the cost of constructing the Fochabers to Mosstodloch by-pass.

Tavish Scott: Construction of the Fochabers to Mosstodloch Bypass is estimated to cost £18 million to £21 million exclusive of value added tax.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the STAG1 report on the Maybole bypass commissioned by the Minister for Transport in 2003.

Tavish Scott: The report on the STAG 1 transport study for Maybole was published on 29 June 2006.

Roads

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2O-9110 by Tavish Scott on 2 March 2006, whether it will provide an update on the anticipated publication date of the report on the findings of the local public inquiry into the proposed upgrade of the A80.

Tavish Scott: The report of the public local inquiry was published on 4 July 2006 and is available on the Scottish Executive website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications .

Roads

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Transport will announce his decision on the future of the A80.

Tavish Scott: I announced my decision on 4 July 2006.

Roads

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are for the North Kessock lay-by on the southbound carriageway of the A9.

Tavish Scott: Following the recent, rapid deterioration of the condition of both the toilet block and surrounding area it was necessary to physically close all but one lay-by area on the night of 28 June 2006.

  The toilet block has been closed securely and height control gates erected to restrict the use of the upper parking areas to cars only. The lower drive-through lay-by provides parking for all other vehicles. Rubbish and waste has been uplifted and disposed of and the whole area tidied. Arrangements will now be made for multi-organisation discussions to determine how best to manage the facility in the future.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the estimated cost of building the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route includes the (a) construction of junctions, bridges and access roads, (b) compulsory purchase of properties and (c) relocation of the International School of Aberdeen.

Tavish Scott: Yes.

Roads

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of estimated costs in relation to the building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route in respect of the (a) the construction of junctions, bridges and access roads, (b) compulsory purchase of properties and (c) relocation of the International School of Aberdeen.

Tavish Scott: The total scheme cost estimate is £295 million to £395 million. The detailed costs of junctions, bridges and access roads have still to be prepared but are included in the overall estimate. The estimated cost of land purchase including the relocation of the International School of Aberdeen is up to £60 million.

Roads

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the final cost of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will be met by (a) it, (b) Aberdeen City Council and (c) Aberdeenshire Council.

Tavish Scott: Subject to final agreement It is proposed that the Scottish Executive will meet 81% of the cost of constructing the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route from Charlestown to Blackdog with Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council contributing 9.5% each. The expressway to Stonehaven and the maintenance of the entire project will be funded by the Executive.

Scottish Executive Consultations

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out any internal audit of the manner in which consultation responses in respect of Bills are presented by it compared with the content of the actual submissions made and, if so, whether it will publish the results of the audit.

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to invite Audit Scotland to analyse the manner in which consultation responses in respect of Bills are presented by the Executive, compared with the content of the actual submissions made.

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will invite Audit Scotland to test the accuracy of the reporting of the consultation process for Bills by sampling differences between the Executive’s summary of consultation responses received and the content of the actual responses received in relation to the Crofting Reform etc. Bill, in particular in respect of direct elections to the Crofters Commission.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive sees no need to carry out any audit or test of our reporting of the consultation process for Bills and has no plans to do so. Copies of the actual responses are always made available to the public, except where the respondents have asked for them to be treated as confidential. A report of the consultation process or summary of the responses is simply a helpful reference document pulling together the main views and issues raised during the consultation. It is not, and was never intended to be, a substitute for the detail contained in the actual responses.

Scottish Executive Procurement

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings by the European Commission in respect of the tendering process for the Holyrood project, what plans it has to initiate a procedure to prevent a similar situation arising in public building contracts, how such a procedure will be monitored, and what protection will be afforded to individuals who challenge tendering processes or other issues in the public interest.

Mr Tom McCabe: I refer the member to the question S2W 27162, answered on 25 July 2006. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Following Lord Fraser’s Inquiry and report on the Holyrood project the Executive has published revised guidelines on construction procurement, the Construction Procurement Manual (published on December 2005) and introduced its Gateway Review programme (in summer 2002). A Centre of Expertise was established (in autumn 2003) to expand and monitor the programme. Protection for whistleblowers is provided by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

Scottish Executive Procurement

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings by the European Commission in respect of the tendering process for the Holyrood project, what plans it has to initiate a review into the principles of equal treatment and transparency in the tendering process for public building contracts.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive has not yet been formally notified of the Commission’s findings, however, it seems unlikely that a further review will be required. Following Lord Fraser’s Inquiry and report on the Holyrood project the Executive has published revised guidelines on construction procurement, the Construction Procurement Manual (published on December 2005). Adherence to the processes set out in the Construction Procurement Manual should ensure equal treatment and transparency. In light of the measures already taken to address the issues identified by Lord Fraser, a further review would not serve any useful purpose at this point.

Scottish Executive Staff

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed at the (a) Scottish Social Services Council, (b) Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care and (c) NHS Education Scotland offices in Dundee; how many of these jobs result directly from relocation, and how many are newly-created posts.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission) were new bodies established on 1 October 2001 and 1 April 2002 respectively under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 .

  Eight employees transferred to SSSC from the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work. The total establishment, at that time, was 32 Full Time equivalent (FTE) staff. The current establishment is 68.75 FTE and there are 71 employees.

  419 employees transferred from local authorities and NHS boards to the Care Commission. The total establishment, at that time, was 507 FTE. The current establishment is 589 FTE, including 20 FTE temporary posts. There are 565 employees. The Care Commission staff are employed across the Care Commission’s headquarters and regional and local offices.

  NHS Education for Scotland (NES) was established in April 2002 as a Special Health Board with responsibility for supporting education for staff in the NHS in Scotland in order to improve the quality of patient care. It is located in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.

  There are 60 staff in Dundee (44.21WTE) of which 13 are new posts resulting from the implementation of the Dental Action Plan. No new posts resulted from relocation.

Scottish Medicines Consortium

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the Scottish Medicines Consortium was in (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03, (c) 2003-04, (d) 2004-05 and (e) 2005-06.

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget of the Scottish Medicines Consortium is for 2006-07 and will be for 2007-08.

Mr Andy Kerr: The following table provides the figures requested:

  

 Year
 Budget


 2001-02
£152,713


 2002-03
£308,120


 2003-04
£338,611


 2004-05
£460,546


 2005-06
£699,580


 2006-07
£883,516


 2007-08
£913,593



  Note: all costs up to 2004-05 exclude overheads such as accommodation, IT, HR and finance functional support, which were absorbed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. These support costs are included in the figures given for 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08.

  The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) reviews and advises NHS boards on the use of all drugs receiving licences. The SMC has developed its role over a period of years, and the number of such drugs has increased considerably. In order to ensure well informed and evidence-based recommendations it has been important to have strong health economic and pharmacy-based input. The SMC also aims to support the NHS in anticipating and planning for the introduction of significant new medications. The SMC is designed to eliminate "post code" prescribing and to ensure that all medications it recommends are made available to the people of Scotland to meet clinical need.

Smoking

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many women aged under 30 are smokers and what the figure was (a) five and (b) 10 years ago.

Lewis Macdonald: The following table details the information available.

  Smoking Prevalence Amongst Women Aged 16-29 in 1995, 1999 and 2004

  

 Year
 Estimated Population (N)
 Percentage Smoking (%)
 Estimated Number Smoking (N)


 1995
 500,300
 36
 180,100


 1999
 458,600
 34
 155,900


 2004
 437,000
 28
 122,400



  Sources: 1995 – Scottish Health Survey; 1999, 2004 – Scottish Household Survey.

  Mid-year population estimates, General Register Office for Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Scottish Health Survey figures for 1995 have been used as 1994 are not available.

  2. Estimated population figures are rounded to the nearest 100.

Transport

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-26411 by Tavish Scott on 16 June 2006, whether it will meet Fife Council as a matter of urgency to discuss the five sets of traffic lights in the centre of Kincardine-on-Forth, in light of their impact on traffic flows, pollution, the convenience of pedestrians and potential accidents.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland and Fife Council officials hold regular meetings at which the traffic signals at Kincardine have been discussed. Officials will continue to liaise on this issue.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted for more information if required.

Vaccinations

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of two-year old children in the NHS Tayside area have received the MMR vaccine in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/files/child_imms_Tqtr106.xls .